Samsung Dominates Apple and Nokia in 2012

In the video below, Fool analyst Lyons George talks about Samsung's dominance over rivals Apple and Nokia in the smartphone market last year.

The Korean manufacturer shipped 213 million smartphones over 2012, setting a record for smartphone shipments. The number for Apple: 135.8 million. While Apple's numbers represent 46% growth year over year, the iPhone's market share remained stagnant at 19%, Lyons says. Samsung's market share jumped from 20% to 30% in that time.

Nokia, meanwhile, saw its share drop from 15% to 5%.

So what is Samsung doing differently?

It is covering the market at every corner, from the high-end Galaxy S and Galaxy Note to low-end models like the Galaxy Y. If you have a pulse and a wallet, there's a Samsung phone for you, Lyons says. But whether that's a profitable strategy remains to be seen. Samsung's margins are much smaller than Apple's.

But Apple cannot afford to ignore the strategy, and it's a good bet the iPhone maker will enter the lower end of the market in the near future, Lyons says.

Will Nokia also make a move to counter Samsung? It's true that Nokia has been struggling in a world of Apple and Android smartphone dominance. However, the company banked its future on its next-generation Lumia line of Windows smartphones, and promising early results have taken many by surprise. Motley Fool analyst Charly Travers has authored a brand-new premium report that digs into both the opportunities and risks facing Nokia. To get started, simply click here now, and as an added bonus you'll receive a FREE year of expert analysis and guidance to keep you up-to-date on Nokia's progress.